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We are aware that consumers are at risk of losing money when booking with businesses that offer cheap flight seats
or cheap air holidays on websites and which claim to hold ATOLs or to offer ATOL protection.

Many of these websites are operated from outside the UK, and while the CAA and other enforcement agencies are
working to stop such websites, sadly it is not always possible to do so.

The CAA therefore urges consumers to be extra vigilant when being offered cheap travel and check that websites that
claim to provide ATOL Protection are operated either by a valid ATOL holder or by agent properly acting on behalf of an
ATOL holder.

Things to know that can help you reduce the risk:

All bona fide ATOL holders display the ATOL Protected logo and their unique licence number issued by the CAA. Some
combine the number into the logo;

Each unique licence number is four to five digits long, and may include a T at the start;

ATOL holders’ trading names and website addresses are registered with the CAA; these can be checked on the Check
an ATOL facility.

Watch out for the following:

The ATOL Protected logo is shown without a number, or with a number but either the number does not appear on the
Check an ATOL facility or the ATOL holder to which the number is allocated is not referred to on the website;

A trading name is used in connection with an ATOL holder’ s business name or ATOL number but is not included on
the ATOL holder’s record on the ATOL website;

Unusually cheap flight or holidays prices are quoted;

The online enquiry or booking facility doesn’t work;

No postal address is shown on the website;

Don’t be fooled by a website address ending .co.uk or a contact telephone number which has a UK dialling code -
both of these can be operated from outside of the UK;

Although credit and/or debit card logos are shown on the website there is no online payment facility, and
customers are asked to pay by bank transfer;

You’re asked to make a deposit payment only but are then offered a better deal later providing that you pay in
full;

After an initial payment is made, the customer is told the booking cost has increased;

You receive a document or e-mail referring to a reservation but which are not been issued by the airline or
airline/s concerned.

Websites to watch out for

In addition to the advice given above, we are providing information here on websites that include false indications
that an ATOL is held or that ATOL Protection is in place (as at 4 January 2018):